Traffic signal fob vehicles



Jan. 23, 1923.

R. L. ATWELL. TRAFFIC SIGNAL. FOR VEHICLES. ORIGINAL FILED Aus. 31.

1920, 3 SHEETS-SHEET I E zuz iwell Jan. 23, 1923. Re. 15,530

R. L. ATWELL.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES. 0m GINAL F4 LED Ave. 31 1920 3 SHEETSSHEET 2 Jan. 23, 1923. I Y Re. 15,530v

R. E. ATWELL. TRAFFIC Sasmu. FOR VEHICLES- ORIGINAL FlLED AUG. 31. 1920. 3 SHEETS'SHEET 3 O may be readily applied to any machine- Reissued Jan. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES ROBERT L. A'I'WELL, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTIICAROLINA.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL ronvnHIcLEs.

Original No. 1,351,605, dated August 31, 1920, Serial No. 299,419, filed May 24, 1919'.

reissue filed August 29, 1922. Serial No. 585,053. I

To aZZ' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. A'rwnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, North Carolina, have invented 5 new and useful Improvements in Trafli'c Signals for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traflic signals and especially signals which are adapted to be mounted upon an automobile, motor truck or other motor propelled vehicle and by means of which the operators of other cars as well as trafiic policemen and pedestrians may be advlsed as to any change 1n the direction of the vehicle contemplated by'the operator thereof without the necessity of the operator extending his arm for that purpose, thereby enabling him to use both arms and hands in the control of the machine.

provide a signal or direction indicator which will point the direction in which the car is to move, which signal is adapted to be illuminated after nightfall so that it may be used as well at that time as during the daytime.

Another object of my invention is to provide a direction indicator which may also be used to illuminate the license plate and as a tail light for the vehicle, thus obviating the necessity of additional lights for that purpose. v

A further object of my invention-is to provide a signal with means for swinging it in more than two directions. The usual traffic signal is adapted to change its position in two directions only but in order to more thoroughly arouse the attention of the driver of the following or other nearby car and fix his attention upon the signal, I have so constructed it that it may be moved successively first in a horizontal plane in the line of travel of the vehicle; secondly from said horizontal plane to a vertical plane and thirdly, while occupying said vertical plane, it may be further moved to the right or to the left in a plane transver'seflto the direction of the movement of the vehicle.

A still further object in view is to provide a traffic signal the several parts of which either at the time of manufacture thereof or at any time subsequent thereto.

Withthe above and other objects in view,

56 the invention consists in the novelconstruc- One of the objects of my invention is to. the right and left and Application for tion, combination and arrangement of parts herein 'fully described, illustrated and V clai1ned.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tratfic'signal shown in its applied relation to a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the indicator or trafiic signal operating means. Fig. 3 is'a plan view of the cam rod. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the rack and pinion transmission mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fi 2. i 4 *ig. 7 is a rear elevation showing the vertical position of the pointer in full lines and hand positions thereof in dotted lines. i y

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the pointer or indicator.

Fig.9 is a longitudinal section'through' the same. V Y

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the operating levermounted on the head of the steering F ig. 11 is a plan view of the graduated sector.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the device as it appears in its normal inactive position. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the device as it appears after itsinitial period of ac-' tivation. y I 1 Fig. 14 is a plan view thereof asfit appears after its initial period of activation.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the device after the second period-of, activation has taken place and the signal has progressed 90 detended movement of the vertical to the left,"

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the device after i the signal has progressed 180 degrees fur ther to indicatean intended movement of the vertical to the right. The trafiic signal comprises a signaling armor pointer 1 which is shown inth'e form' V of an arrow of hollow formation, comprising an upper wall 2, a lower wall 3, and side wa lls 4, the upper wall ofthe pointer being composed of glass or other translucent material so as to be ,visible'after nightfall when interiorly illuminated by means of electric lamps orbulbs which are disposed at intervals throughout the length of the burner and within the base or hub portion thereof as shown in the drawing; thewiresleadifig to said lamps or bulbs passing, through an opening 6 in the body of the armor ointer as shown.

The pointer or arm 1 1s mounted upon an oscillatory or partially rotatable support orhub 7 havingajjournal 8 which is mounted rotatably in a bearing 9 carried by an arm 10 supported in a manner hereinafter particularly des'cribed,-the hub-or support 7' being mountedbetweenthe arm 10 andanother ar'm11,-fthe latter beingemployed for imparting-a partial rotary or rocking-movement to the support 7 as will hereinafter appear.

The arm 11 is connected integrally to or suitablyiastenedin fixed relation to a rotatable cam rod 12 which isjou'rna'led in a main supportingbearing :13, having an at taching base 14 by means of which it is fixedly secured to the vehicle. a cam groove 14K extendinglongitudinally thereof and comprising a straight longitu dinalpo'rtion 15, an inclined portion 16 leading off therefrom.and a reversely inclined portion 17 of greater extent than the inclined portion 16. The cam groove 14 is engaged by a pin 18- having a fixed connection with the stationary bearing 13, whereby as-said cam rod is shifted longitudinally through the bearing 13-. a partial rotative movement is. imparted thereto first in one'direction and then in theto-pposite direction.

, shifted longitudinally to a certain extent or degree without any turning movement '01 said cam rod.

The arm 10 is provided at its inner end with a sleeve 18 ha'ying one ormore grooves 19 to receive a corresponding number'of keys or ribs "20 on. the arm .ll where-it passes throughsaid sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 is providedwith annular groovesfll having spiral portions; which gopen out the inner end of the sleeve and working in the grooves 21vare the inturned end portions 22;

of-a-pa'ir of yokes or studs 23 which are adjustably secured by means of nuts 24 and 25 to oppositely extending lugs 26' on the fixedorstationary bearings y The members '23 thus serve Qtol prevent any movementof the sleeve 18 jlengitudinally with resp'ectto the axis of the bearing member 13 while-- the longitudinal portion 15 0f the m. ove is m v s I l ne i ie flpi 184 When, howeve r, the pin 18fent'ers I and moyes along the inclinedl plijrtion's of the am-efbo 'e, t slee 1 i-p rt 1v' 9- tated untiY-th' embei s '23pass out offeiif ageiij iit I I therewith I and releas the -'sleeve '18.

The cam rod 12has1 The longitudinal portion 15 of. the cam groove permits the cam rod to' be The G m rod 12 is formed with a bOi'e 27 'which receives an operating push rod 28 adjustable in the bore 27 to provide for properly adjusting: th'e-trafhc operating mechanism in relation to the motor vehicle upon'whioh'it is mounted. The push rod 28 may be connected by any suitable means such as a lever or link to an operating shaft .29; see Fig. 10, extendin upwardly through the steering column 30 of the machine and having secured to its upper end an operating lever 31 designed to sweep over an arcuatei graduated plate or sector 32 having suitable emblems'thereon' to designate such direction as left, right, turn and stop as may be found desirable by the manufacturer. It will now be understood that by operating the lever 31.; the push rod 28 is moved longitudinally thereby imparting a corresponding movement to the cam rod 12, musing'ui latter toslide through the bear 111913 and causing-the cam groove of said rod toengage the fixed pin 18 thus imparting a partialrotary movement to the cam rod during the longitudinal movement thereof. y

The operation of the device is as below, attentionbeing invited particularly to sheet 4 of'thel drawings, The signal indicator I normally liesin' a' horizon'tal plane pointing directly forward in the' direction of travel of the car as seen inFig. 12. In the initial movement of the" rotatable camv rod 12 towards the point of the indicator signal, the pin18 enters andengages the straight portion 15 of the: cam groove so thatthe rotatable calm rod 12 isfnot rotated but moves the direction of the arrow carrying with it the main see Figs. 13 and 14." The cam 11 is provided with a rack face 33 which engages a gear face 34:1X1011I1t8dil1 a stud shaft 33extending from the adjacent edge of'the-supportfi. A partial r'otative' movement having beenthus imparted to the support 7 the pointer or indicator signal is actuated thereby and moves through an area of 9, 0- degrees, that is to say {from the hori zofrital position showninFig. 12 to the verti cal position shown in Figs. 13 and 14; this completes theinitial movement of the device, In the further rearward movement of the cam rod 12 the pinl18 engages the in-. cl-iiied portion 16 of the cam. groove, impartingtherebya partially rotative movement tothe arm 11" which" moves thepointer lsta'ii'ding in a vertic aliplane "throiigh an arc 90' degrees to a horizontah position in ai plane tran verseto'theadir tiun of travel ofjthe: car. The cam rod-12 has hioved'beyond-the 'ea'sing l asseen. in Fig. 15, and

"is'that slioii 'n'in Fig. "15. In't'he iii) theygkes 23 have passed along the annular spiral grooves 21]; outof engagement with 'the sleeye further aibvsaeti as rod are;

. operating lever 21 and the push rod 28 may same direction, the pin 18 engages the'longer and reversely inclined portion 17 ofthe cam groove and the pointer is thereby 'moved through anarc of 180 degrees from its last point so that the point of the indicator occupies a vhorizontal position exactly oppositely disposed to the position recently occupied-by it, as seen in Fig. 16; By returning the lever 31 to its initial position the movements heretofore described "are reversed and the indicating signal is returned to its original position in a horizontal plane pointing in the direction of travel of the car. i

'In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have illustrated the indicator arm or pointer as mount.- ed and arranged to operate at the fear of the motor vehicle but it will of course be appar;

ent that said signaling .arm or pointer may,

be arranged at the front of the vehicle or in any other desired position, the main feature of the invention residing in the means for swinging said indicating arm or pointer in a plurality of vertical planes so that it may be disposed in several positions to indicate clearly and unmistakably the direction in which'thevehicle is about to travel. This is a great assistance to the driversof other vehicles especially those traveling in rear of the vehicle'equipped with the signaling apparatus and the mechanism is also useful to traflic policemen and pedestrians as they serve to advisethe trafiic in genera'l as to the intended movement of the vehicle. The motion transmitting means between the initial be varied in accordance with the typefof vehicle in conjunction with which the traflic signal is to be used, forexample electrical means may be employed and I therefore do not desire to be restricted to any particular form of operating connection for that pur- It will also be apparent that the par ticular means for imparting a partial ropose.

tative movement to the support 7gmay be varied Without departing from the principle of the invention as other means than the rack and pinion mechanism shown and described may be resorted to. The traffic signal eliminates the necessity of the operator using thearm to signal the direction in which he is about to turn thereby leaving his arms and hands free to manipulate the control of the machine. The mechanism is not only simple but is strong and reliable involving no delicate parts liable to get out of order and therefore it is able to stand the strains of rough usage, especially adapted to all types of commercial cars whether used for pleasure or industrial use.

What I claim is 1. In a vehicle carried traflic signal supporting member, a direction indieating and pointing member having an articulated connection with said supporting tical plane in line with the direction of movement of the vehicle and. also in a vertical plane at substantially a right angle to the direction of movement of the vehicle,

and means for swinging said direction indicating member in either of said vertical planes, the last named means comprising a rockable element by which said indicating member is carried, includinga push rod geared to said rockable element, .and means including a cam device for rocking said element on an axis substantially at a right angle to its major axis, and manually operable element controlling both of thelast named means. k

2. In a vehicle carried traiii'cflsignal, a signal supporting member, a direction indieating and pointing member having an articulated onnection with said supporting member adapting it to be swungin a vertical plane in line with the direction of movement of the'vehicle-and also from right to left in membenadapting it tfo beswung a ver a vertical plane at substantially a right angle to the direction of movement of the, vehicle, and means for swinging said directionindieating. member in either of saidvertical planes, the last named means comprising a rockable element by which saidindicating member is carried, means for rocking said element on the major axis, an arm supporting one. end of said element and adapted ,to turn'the same end for end, and another arm adapted 'to turn. said element. on its major axis. a

3. In. a vehicle carried trafiic signal, a signal supporting member, a direction indif eat ng and pointingmember having an articulated connection with said supporting member adapting it to be swung in a vertlcal plane in line with the direction of movement of the vehicle and also in a vertical plane at substantially a right angle to the direction of movement of the vehicle, and means for swinging said direction indicating member in either of said vertical planes, the last named means compris ng a rockable element by which said indicating through said support, an arm carried by said i member and having rack teeth thereon, a bracket arm having slidable connection with said member, a pointer having a hub portion journaled in the free end of said bracket arm, and a pinion extending from said hub and meshing with said rack.

5. A vehicle carried signalpomprising supportada'pted'tobe secured upona vehicle and fhavin a bore, mod slidableand rotatablvvit in said bore and having a cam groove, a pinwithin the bore engaging with in the groove, an; arm secured to and pro-,

jecting from'one end of said rod and formed pointer having a hub (member, journaled at one'end 'inthe free end of said bracket arni, anda pinion at theother "end ofisaid hubportion mes-hing with said rack teeth.

6. In a vehicle -.ar-ried--signal-,a direction signaling'member, supporting means for said. sig aling member adaptingit "to be pointed successively horizontally in the direction of. the n'lovement of the vehicle, vertically up- Wardand fromsuch position to'the} right or left "ina vertical plane as predetermined," andmeans for swinging said signaling member to'saidseveral positions 7.- In" a vehicle; carried jtraflic signal, a signal supporting, member, a direction indicating signaling inem'berQhavingfan, articulated connection with 'sjaid supporting mem ber adapting it to beswung;'successivelyfto a substantially horizontal plane sofas to pointin th direction of-travel ofthe vehiclefto a vertical plane and fromsuch position to the right 'or-left in a vertical plane ,aXis, aI1d-means,for rocking said element-on "an snbstantially" at a right angle to its ma orax1s. v

" 10.In' a "vehicle carried 'traflic signal, a

signal operating member, a direction .indi

eating and pointing member havinganarticulatedconnection with said supporting -memberadaptmglttolbe swung successively from a horizontal plane to avertical plane in line ith the direction of movem'entof the vehicle andialso 'in a vertical plane at substan'tiallya right angle to the direction of movement of the vchicle, -and-means for swinging said direction indicating member nneither ofgsald ver tlcal planes thelast named meanskeomprisingfla rockable element by ivhich said indicating member is carried,

means for rocking said element on its maj or axis, and means for rocking said element on an axis substa'ntiallyat a right/angle to lts major (axis, and a single ,ope-rable element :con'trolling both ofsaid.-last named means.

1L In a vehicle carried signaL-a support- 111gine1nb'er compr sing a sleeve, a rod movable and rotatable-1n said sleeve and having a groove cam thereon a pin in said sup porting member to engage the groove cam,

a collar supported by; and keyed to rotate with said'rod but toha've a permissive axialmovement ivith'fegartlto the saidrod,' a bracket arm 'on;said collar,- a pivot on said bracketar'm, a direction indicator carried" on said pivot for movement in a plane'parallel tothe-axis of the rod, a bifurcated extransversely of the direction of thetraveljoffljtension "on said rod, a rack on the inside the vehicle and means forswinging said plane in line; with the direction of mov'e'- v ment of the-vehicle'and also in a ve tieal plane atsubstantially a right angle; to the directiol'i of movementof the vehicle and means for swinging" said direction indicat ing member to' either of said vertical planes;

9. In a vehicle carriedytraflic signal, a Signal supporting membeiga direction "indio'ating and pointiiig member having an articu lated connection with saidsfupporting meme ber' adapting it to be" 'successivd swung from a horizontal plane" to' a vertical plane in line with the" direction of movementiof the vehicle and alsojin ayerticalfplane at substantially a righta-ngle tothe direction of movement" o f-ithe vehicle, and? means, for swin ing said direction indicating member in eitherj of said wertiealplanes', the. last .namedmeans comprisingza rockable, e-leinentf by which:said'gindicatin means, carried, means "for rocking said, element; or major;

-dicating position. i I

of one ofthe bifurcations, a pinion on-the direction indicator and carried between the "member to engagesaid collar androtate it durlng axial movement of the said rod.-

12. In a vehicle carried signal, a support indmemb er wi'tlr a pin thereon, a rod movab leand rotatable in. said supporting melnberwith a groove cam thereon to engage with-the pin of said supporting; member, a collar carrying a pointer and keyed to the rod, whereby axial movement of the said rod raises the pointer. and rotational move- .nient of" the said: rod asgiinparted by the said cam and pin rocks the pointer.

13.'In a vehicle carried signal, a supporting membe r, a rod movable and rotatable in saidsupporting mernberfa pin on said. 4

supporting member a pointer articulated to said rod, a "grooved collaronsaid rod to cooperateflwitha yoke on: said, supporting Y memberto raise the said pointer to an indieating-position; a cal-n ono said rod to cooperate with a pin on said, supporting ,me'm-i ber to rock the said pointer to another! in 14; In e Vehi'cle carried s n; 1,"

ing member, a rod movablejand rotatablei aid; isappqrting niember'; a. p inter a supportlated to said rod, a pin on said supporting member, a cam on said rod cooperating with said pin to successively raise the pointer to an indicating position, and thereafter re lease the pointer and rock into a second indicating position, and then rock in to a third indicating position.

15. In a vehicle carried signal, a supporting member, a rod movable and rotatable in said supporting member, a pointer articulated to said rod, means actuated by the axial movement of the rod to raise the said pointer from the normal axial to an indicatingvposition, and means actuated by the further axial movement of said. rod to rock the said pointer at right angles to its former plane of movement to another indicating position.

16. In an automobile direction indicator,

the combination with a hollow pointer, means in the rear end thereof to form a tail light for the car and a vertically disposed axis upon which said pointer is horizontally positioned so as to indicate the direction of travel of the vehicle, of means to cause the pointer successively to rise from the horizontal to a vertical position so as to attract the attention of the driver-of the following car andto further move tothe right or to the left in the vertical plane to indicate the intended movement of the car to the right or to the left.

17. In a vehicle carried traffic signal, a direction signaling member, supporting means for said signaling member adapting it to be pointed horizontally in the direction of the movement of thevehicle and means for swinging said direction signal from the horizontal to a vertical position followed by a further movement of said signal in a vertical plane through the arc of a circle for as much as 90 degrees in either direction from a perpendicular and return to its horizontal position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

R. L. ATVVELL. 

